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Moral equivalence must be one of the overriding curses of our age. Even those who are capable of making moral judgements now often find it easier to make equivalences between sides than to study facts and work out who may be or right or wrong. So whenever any conflict breaks out, much of the world can be relied on – from the United Nations downwards (or upwards) – to call for a cessation of the “cycle of violence.” In Britain last week, there was an especially flamboyant example of this trend, courtesy of the noble Baroness Warsi.

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Good morning. It’s a case of ‘he said, she said’ in the Natasha Bolter and Roger Bird melodrama, with the latter producing a series of demonstrative text messages in a bid to clear his name. “Ukip’s sex scandal: party chief reveals ‘love texts’” is our take.

Mr Bird has been suspended as general secretary pending an investigation, but insists that he and Ms Bolter were in a consensual sexual relationship and much like a teenager in the schoolyard, has the texts to prove it. “There are plenty of emails and text messages between us which shows how it was a consensual relationship with interest on both sides,” he says.

Ms Bolter’s not having any of it though, and says in the Indy that the messages were simply her being “friendly.” “I love u bird and wish u let me look after u. Hope u feel better xx,” said one.

Who to believe? The recruitment of Ms Bolter – a woman from a minority background and a Labour supporter to boot – was a coup for Nigel Farage’s party because it appeared to address various fears around Ukip. The question of Ms Boulter versus Mr Bird – and what Ukip does about it all, one way or another, will either go some way to allaying or confirming those same fears.

I STILL WANT EU

The PM has confirmed his continuing support for Turkey’s EU membership bid, saying that the EU will be “stronger, not weaker” if Turkey’s membership is granted. and saying the UK and Turkey would work “hand in glove” to share vital intelligence regarding anyone involved in terrorism – “Turkey Jihadi No-Go Deal” is The Sun’s splash.

HELP FOR HEROES

The PM has pledged an extra £30 million to support British veterans, Tom Newton Dunn reveals in the Sun. £20 million will go to childcare facilities and the remainder will be used to expand a centre for wounded, traumatised and homeless veterans.

JUNCKER, CLAUDE

Further details of the Luxembourg tax scandal have come to light in today’s Guardian, with Disney, Skype and the Koch brothers among those named. It’s increasing the pressure on Jean-Claude Juncker, with his 2005 comments on “the favourable fiscal environment we’ve created here in Luxembourg” ageing particularly badly.

WHEN GOVE IS GONE

Improvements to English schools have “stalled”, Sir Michael Wilshaw will warn today as he presents Ofsted’s annual report, which is expected to report that 29% of schools are rated as “requiring improvement” or inadequate. Graeme Paton has the story.

ANOTHER FINE MESSINA YOU’VE GOT US INTO

“If you are not on this,” Jim Messina told a Conservative MPs while holding his iPhone aloft, “You’re not in the game.” “He swept me off my feet,” one MP tells Elizabeth Rigby, who profiles Mr Messina in the FT. Labour are less pleased with their guru, that man David Axelrod, Jim Pickard reports. “We haven’t seen hide or hair of him since the summer,” one Shadow Cabinet minister sighs.

COOKING UP CONTROVERSY

Labour’s head of strategy, Greg Cook, concedes that the party would be “highly unlikely” to hold on to power if it tried to form a minority government and would probably be forced into a second general election very quickly unless Labour formed a coalition, Sam Coates reports in the Times. It puts Mr Cook at odds with those in his party, particularly the trade unions, who are opposed to a coalition with other parties.

NAFFED? IS THAT A THING?

Chuka Umunna says he is “not naffed” where David Cameron went to school, that our politics is “too adversarial” and that it was a mistake to ever consider joining the Euro. He’d “never sanction”that now. He made the remarks in conversation with John Rentoul – the full recording is here.

WILL NO-ONE RID ME OF THIS TURBULENT UNION?

Rowan Williams has added his name to the list of supporters of the UK’s EU membership, warning that withdrawal from the international body could leave the UK “dangerously dependent” on the City. The former Archbishop of Canterbury says that leaving the EU would be a “deeply regressive” step and that Britain would struggle to offer anything “distinctive” outside of the financial sector.

HARMAN’S HALF HOUR

“The Tories are a party of men for men,” Harriet Harman tells the Guardian, who will face Nick Clegg at the battle of the stand-in leaders this afternoon. Labour, however, are “women and men”.

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A blonde, a brunette and a redhead are stuck on an island. For years, they live there, and one day they find a magic lamp. They rub it, and sure enough, out comes a genie. The genie says “since I can only give out 3 wishes, you may each have one”

So the brunette goes first, “I have been stuck here for years, I miss my family and my husband and my life, “I just want to go home.” POOF, she is gone.

The redhead makes her wish, “This place sucks, I want to go home too.” POOF, she is gone.

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Mahmoud Abbas has a weapon which he utilizes to inflict blunt force trauma bludgeoning Israel before a world that just demands that the violence end, but end without any use of force by Israel. Israel is in the position of a battered spouse who for reason of the expectations of the society surrounding it demands that Israel rehabilitate the abusive spouse and save the troubled relationship. Every time Israel petitions for a divorce the world as the judge orders Israel and its abusive spouse, the Abbas Arab body, to get counselling and make the marriage work. Israel is consistently instructed to find some magic by which to transform the abusive Abbas Arab body into a functional state living side by side with Israel in a harmonious relationship. Mahmoud Abbas as the controlling conscience of the Israeli spouse refuses to give up in the tantrums and violence as Abbas has learned…

While the UK has been conciliatory and has stressed a commitment to long term cooperation with the EU, the European Commission has undertaken a ‘black ops’ media strategy through leaks and briefings by backroom staff. Cowardice and bullying usually go hand in hand. Brussels will soon see that it just won't work with Britain

Jeremy Corbyn's sympathies with dictatorial socialists worldwide are well known. It still makes one step back in horror when one recognises the terrible social oppression that Corbyn's heroes have caused. The shocking reality of socialism in Venezuela offers a sobering illustration

A quick survey of the historical facts makes a nonsense of the widely touted claim the EU has kept the peace in Europe since WWII. It is only since 2004, just 14 years ago, that the majority of European states were even members of the EU. Peace has been preserved by the US presence in Europe and NATO, the rest is Europhile fantasy land

From fake news to cyberbullying, the internet is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for schoolchildren. Much more can be done educate, engage and protect the next generation from harm, argues Rachel Neaman, CEO of Corsham Institute (Ci)

The Labour Party is caught between snobbish anti-democratic Remainers and opportunistic Marxists who don't like the EU but are playing a shabby political game at the expense of British voters. The net result is that Labour can't be trusted on Brexit. Their cynical exploits must be exposed

Wanton acts of violence against immigrants are still rare in Italy, but the latest attack has shocked the country. That said, resentment about immigration is starting to kick in, and it may well be exploited at the forthcoming elections

Many, such as Angela Merkel of Germany, speak out sincerely about the abomination of anti-Semitism. But there are still far too many in Europe who continue to stoke the fires of the most violent form of racism of the modern era

Brexit, above all, is about reasserting democracy. The anti-democratic posturing in the House of Lords by unelected cronies reminds us radical reform, or even abolition of this outdated relic, may have to be another milestone on the road to reestablishing the sovereignty of the British people

The EU is terrified that an independent UK will become more market-friendly and thus put competitive pressure on its member states. It is also horrified at losing EU contributions. Theresa May needs to understand she has the upper hand, and stop behaving like a weakling against Eurocrats who genuinely have a lot to fear

Those who seem to think leaving the single market will cause growth to slow need to explain why there was no visible boost to growth when we joined. Project Fear has its alter ego -- Project Fantasy about benefits of EU membership that never actually materialised